Seniors benefit greatly from having connections to others in order to maintain health, and companion care provides this necessary interaction.
Individuals living alone or having minimal family support may require companion care services to assist with transportation and errands, and provide emotional support and friendship.
Help with Activities of Daily Living
Senior loved ones frequently need assistance with basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This may involve assistance with getting dressed, bathing, grooming and eating; personal hygiene needs including transfer from bed to chair; as well as maintaining a safe home environment, taking medications as prescribed and paying bills on time.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADLs) can play a pivotal role in defining an individual’s level of independence. These may include playing an instrument, participating in art or exercising as hobbies; attending social events; grocery shopping; cooking meals and housework are just some examples of activities of daily living that contribute to independence.
Companion care can provide assistance with these and many other activities, and is best started by checking if your loved one’s insurance plan covers home health or companion care services. After that, contact a local agency and discuss your needs with the friendly coordinator – or use Visiting Angels’ Select Your Caregiver program to identify an ideal caregiver for you situation.
Transportation
Your loved one may find driving difficult or impossible due to health reasons, so a companion can provide invaluable supplementary transportation services such as taking them grocery shopping, hair and nail salon appointments, community events or their favorite coffee shop or restaurant.
Companions can provide your loved ones with social activities like movies or theatre shows, walks, cards or board game play dates and visits with friends – helping to stave off loneliness and isolation experienced by many seniors who live alone or whose family and friends live far away. Although home health aides and companions sometimes perform similar duties, companions typically serve to promote the emotional well-being of clients whereas home health aides may administer medication or provide hands-on medical assistance; either independently or through home care agencies which often have first aid/CPR training available as part of these roles.
Socialization
Seniors need companion care at home in part to provide social stimulation and engage in stimulating conversation with other adults. Studies have revealed that isolation increases depression risks, weakens genitive health and raises stress levels significantly.
Companions can help seniors remain engaged with family, friends, and the community by accompanying them on trips to local events or playing card or board games, visiting favorite coffee shops or restaurants or keeping their house organized and tidy, thus reducing safety risks while keeping living spaces cleaner for seniors.
Companions may be hired through home care agencies or independently. Agencies often create care plans with family input in the hiring process and offer training on topics like dementia and first aid; individuals hiring independent companions may need to perform background checks – although this may not always be mandatory depending on where you live.
Emotional Support
Home companions provide emotional support and encourage independence for aging adults, which is crucial to their overall health and quality of life. Aging individuals often experience feelings of loneliness or isolation which could threaten their independence and wellbeing.
Home companions can help alleviate these feelings by providing companionship and encouraging participation in social activities. Furthermore, they can assist with tasks like running errands, reminding of medications, attending medical appointments and more.
To ensure your family member receives the best care possible, reach out to Visiting Angels home companion agency and inquire about its hiring process. Agencies that specialize in non-medical care typically create personalized care plans with their clients involved in planning process; in case regular caregivers become unavailable due to illness or emergencies they should offer backup services as backup with comprehensive background checks being performed on all personnel employed by them as backup. Reach out today and arrange for a complimentary care consultation; Select Your Caregiver program will match you up with one who meets all your loved one’s requirements and preferences!